 in black. Why not make a night of it? B&B only 5950 per person Sharon will see you on some Stevens night. Welcome back. During the week, Motorsport Ireland's award winners were announced at their annual ceremony with young drivers from Dunigal, Dublin and Offaly, landing three of the sport's most prestigious honors. The International Driver of the Year Award went to Alex Dunne from County Offaly. Aiman Kelly from Dunigal was named young rally driver of the year. And 23 year old Alex Denning was named the young racing driver of the year at the ceremony in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dublin. Well, both Kelly and Denning will receive 50,000 euro in funding and support for the development of their careers. And Kelly receives additional support from Motorsport Ireland's Racing Rally Academy. Delighted to say that also the Billy Coleman Award for the young rally driver of the year was won by Aiman Kelly, who of course hails from Dunigal now living in Dublin. He's joining us here on Highland Radio Sunday Sport. Firstly, Aiman, many congratulations. Billy Coleman Award. Very prestigious. You must be delighted. Yeah, firstly, thanks for having me on. But yeah, over the moon, really, really, it was a shock. But yeah, a complete honour, to be honest. I think when you grow up enjoying Motorsport in Ireland as a young guy, you really look up to everybody who's won the award and they're usually the best of the best. And yeah, three part of that list is very special. Absolutely. If you look at the list, household names for people who maybe don't even follow Motorsport that much. We've had World Rally Championship driver Craig Breen has been amongst the winners of the Billy Coleman Award, Keith Cronin as well. So, you know, you're right up there. Big shoes to follow. Just tell us a little bit about yourself for people listening who maybe haven't followed your career to date. What's those first and foremost, you're pretty much steeped in a rallying background. So you've had an interest from an early age? Yeah, grew up around motorsport and rallying in particular my whole life, obviously through my dad, Dona's involvement. So I've never not known rallying, I guess. And I suppose I started actually competing myself at the age of 11, which is I know it seems bizarre to some people, but that's the that's the age we kick off at. And yeah, I never really looked back to be honest, always been in a lot of competitions from then and started properly competing then in when I was about 17, 18. And yeah, it's been all go since that, starting off at national level in Ireland, moving up to international level. And eventually in the last two years, going over to the British Rally Championship, which would be probably one of the most competitive junior championships in Europe, which we were obviously very lucky to win this year. And yeah, that's obviously been the highlight of my career to date. And it's, it's what's caused this, this momentum as such hadn't entered 2023. So yeah, it's been really, really good. Well, you were nominated for your performances during the earlier part of the year. And I suppose as the season went on, it went from strength to strength. And as you say, obviously, that the highlight that junior British Rally Championship behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally four. So just tell us a little bit about that British Championship and some of the key highlights from your own perspective. Yeah, so last year when we entered the championship, we ended up finishing second, and it went right down to the wire. And I think we missed out by something like maybe six points. So we came very close. And it was our goal this year to try and top that. And we didn't want to let it get away from us on from the very start. I think maybe in the first round in Clacton, we were second. And then eventually we got our first win and the next round. And from then on, it was really, again, a lot of positive momentum. We'd, I think maybe four wins on the bounce. And yeah, no retirements. It was just a really, really strong year. And as a team, we put in a lot of effort, a lot of time into it, into each round. And yeah, it really, really paid off and we ended up winning the championship with two runs to spare. So you're going to receive support to the value of 50,000 Euro from Sport Ireland and Motor Sport Ireland. And then there's a further 50,000 pledged by the Team Ireland Foundation, thanks to the support from John Coyne. So how big a difference will this financial boost make? And what are your plans for next year? Yeah, it's huge. It's it's the difference between, I guess, getting to race at a higher international level, such as the World Rally Championship, you know, what allows us to take that step and boost our program. And again, further field in the likes of the WRC. And my plan was always to take the step up to the top flight of the BRC, the British Championship, which we're still going to do. But the prize money now will allow us to also deliver a part-time program in the World Championship. We're still finalising that whether it's Junior World Rally Championship, or the support category of the World Rally Championship, which is WRC too. But yeah, I'll be announcing my plans within the coming weeks. And you know, no matter what, it's going to be really, really exciting. And for me, it's a life-changing opportunity and the stuff of dreams for anybody who competes in motorsport. So looking back the early years, and I suppose we're really all in the Honda Civic, then moving on to the Ford since 2019 and Conor Mohan alongside. And you know, it's been a case of gradually moving up that ladder. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we started in the in the Honda Civic, so it's a lot of again, a lot of young drivers do start off in and it's a great way to learn. You know, they're they're fairly basic cars, but it teaches you a lot and it's pure driving and there's great competition within Ireland at national level in that category. And yeah, during that time, Conor came on board with me. He's from Monaghan and he's a similar age to me with the exact same passion and enthusiasm for rallying, which is it was a great partnership to form because it's a two-person sport, not just one. And Conor has always shown the exact same passion and work ethic as I have. And we've gone from strength to strength since that. But yeah, brilliant to have him alongside me for the last four years. And then yeah, like he's moved into the R2 cars, which are more of an international level of machine. And that taught us a lot, you know, left hand drive, you have to use your left foot for braking. A lot of things that are really, really important. And again, that's what I've been in ever since. And yeah, it's been the groundwork for what we know now. So you're still finalizing the plans, but you know, I'm sure you have a reasonable idea. How soon will you be back out competing after the new year? Yeah, hopefully as early as February, that's when things kick off. And yeah, the calendar really gets going February, March. So we plan not to leave it too late and get out as soon as we can. January is usually fairly quiet. So it'll be the very beginning of February. We hope to get out. And you're based in Dublin now. So it's cutting that'll cut down a little bit on the travel and I suppose being near the airport and things will help because you're going to be doing a lot of traveling in the next year. Yeah, it'll cut out a little bit, I guess it's it's three hours. But it's not much when you think about the amount of traveling we will be doing, I guess you're traveling far afield in some scenarios. But like I said, it's it's a huge opportunity. And for me, I've never actually rallied outside of the UK. So a huge experience for me. And I'm definitely going to learn a lot. But yeah, like I said, I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to do it, not many do. And I'm going to relish every bit of it. And just how many people will be involved in your team with all the backup, etc. for some of these events next year? Yeah, I think that's something maybe people don't realize you've got, you've obviously got myself on Connor, but outside that you usually have three to four mechanics around the car. You could have two guys out early in the morning checking the roads, checking the conditions in your pace notes. So that's an extra two people. And then you've always got extra people out and about for additional support, and just feedback from from the stages. So there could always be up to about 10 people or more surrounding you on a race weekend. And of course, next June, Dunleagol International rally, will we be seeing you taking part in that? Or is there going to be a clash of events? Yeah, unfortunately, there is a bit of a clash. I did try every logistical option to work it out. But we're heading to Ypres in Belgium the weekend after it's around to the British Championship, a rally that I've been really, really keen to do. And fortunately, it's part of the championship next year. So it'll be a big focus on that. Because again, logistically, and even to just to focus your mind on the event, it would be a lot to do to two big events like that on the bounce. So we'll probably have to set out Dunleagol this year. But I, it won't stop me attending the event. I'll still be there in support and taking everything in for the following year, hopefully. So in conclusion, you know, this is a great end to the year getting that Billy Coleman Award. It's given you that that boost, that extra, I suppose helping hand to go to the higher level. So, you know, looking to 2023, this could be a quite a year, quite a memorable year. And it's another step forward for you. Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, it's the stuff of dreams for anybody who's grown up in motorsport. And I'm very, very lucky and a lot of people to thank as well on the sponsors Northgate, Leesh, HSS, Donnie Group, trailer stuff for Dunleagol based and GMG over in Scotland, you know, these people make it all possible. And again, I have to thank all the team around me, such as my mechanics, VSM and Derry and Connor, who I mentioned, and of course, my dad as well, who's a huge support. It's just the support I've gotten has been unbelievable. And yeah, I'm just so, so lucky. And it's been a reason why we've had such a positive year. And just one final question that do we know yet? Have you finalised what car you will actually be driving? Yeah, so we know that in the British Championship, we enter contest in the polo that I was in this year. It's a phenomenal car. And I did about four events in it this year. And we weren't even scratching the surface of what it's capable of. So for me to be able to live a full season on it next year and really, you know, unleash its potential and unleash my own potential, it's so, so exciting. And I just can't wait to get going. Well, we look forward to 2023 and following your events with interest. Iman Kelly, many thanks for joining us. Congratulations once again, winner of the Billy Coleman Award for Young Rally Driver of the Year. Iman Kelly speaking to us live here on Sunday support on